Mum2one - next chapter - baby steps make big strides

mum2one

Another month has bitten the dust - but onwards and upwards for October. I've just had dds birthday this week, we went away for the weekend, it would be nice if we could spend her birthday at home but unfortunately I have a pain in the backside of an ex - so it's not safe for her to be home.

It'd kicked off again this time so have to go and give statement to the police.

Money wise back on track to restart my dmp this month, I have done dds birthday present without credit cards or borrowing the money so very pleased.

In the next week I have hospital for dad, dd to the opticians, both of us to the dentist, police station to give a statement, dad to hospital for consultant, mum to the opticians, so as for any dent in my to do list think that hAve to wait...
Xx

crunch_time

Finally read through your diary! You are doing so well in the face of adversity so keep it up! Thanks for all your kind comments on my diary. Now I'm on mat leave I'm hoping to keep more up to date with everyone so you should be seeing more support from me!


Crunchy xx

mum2one

i've had a good long think about money and life over this weekend, and bar coming to the conclusion that I seem to be balancing too many balls in the air, maybe i was trying to much to please everyone, I'm going to use Oct and Nov as a get through month and really watch every penny.

I know its not going to be an ideal situ, but I'm going to take a break from my DMP, for 2 months then restart with maybe a lower repayment, I'm looking at reducing it by £20 a month, obviosuly my debt free date will feel like will i ever get there, but from Dec payments will restart and see from there, thou I'll pay token £1 a debt.......

my other main thought, my incomings are presently based on a 4 week payment, but on the SOA the payments are weekly x 52 then divided by 12, so for eg my SOA will say I get £1000 a mth, but my actual will be £920 and its the lower figure that I have to live on then when I get a double month it gets spent as its been accounted for as the SOA.

new plan - is 2 x SOAs - the one for DMP which shows my income as 1/12mth, but the one be working by is the 2nd copy - which base my incoming on the 4 weekly month........ mean the dmp gets the same money, but i'll have to lose a percentage of "my spends" (petrol, groceries, etc) to accomodate the base sum, then when a month appears that I get a "double month", I'll put half of it into a saving account / emergency funds and put half into a seperate account so I can make an additional payment to my DMP, hopefully i can pay it to my lowest creditor, as I have 2 at £100 owing, to get these out of the way would be brilliant.

We have some issues related to DD, not from her, but her family she is estrangled from and that is winging it ways to the hands of the police, which is a hassle we could both do without, but hey thats how the cookie crumbles.

Our priority as a family is to support my father and be there for him and my mum, at the mo that means me being personal taxi service, shopper, financial advisor (considering I can't manage my bills, quite funny), but I think i am doing ok with theres.

I also need to work through my big to do list........ plan this week is the Christmas cakes as I only have 1 day that hasn't been allocated with dctors, dentists, hospital, visits etc.

Changing my sig, - positive step so I dont keep seeing my awful debt free date... xx

crunch_time

Keep going - its good to reassess things every now and again as your circumstances change - its all progress!!xx

mum2one

I had 3/12 ebay sales tonight, so very pleased, I had a clear out of the wardrobe, the other items have been relisted and within 2 mins one of the prs of trousers had their 1st bid. after paying ebay I est I should be around £41 profit,

My next personal aim is £200..... which will be used for DDs xmas prezzie, the plan is a tablet, (under £100), then there be £40 for her christmas stocking and £60 for bits and pieces for xmas. My ebay sales go in now on £41/£200, think mum and dad are going to get her the babyliss hair curler... xx

Trixxibell

Wow I've just had a good catch up with your diary.

You deserve a huge well done on how much your doing. I believe that reassessing is a essential part of becoming debt free and it's one Of the YNAB rules that I follow. Your budget/financial plan needs to work for you and be realistic. As you know from my diary my plans change a lot. lol xx

Sorry your going through trouble with DDs estranged family hope it's sorted quickly for you.

The clear out seems to be going well, onwards and upwards with your list I don't know how you find the time to do it all and sell on eBay.

Love Trixxibell x

mum2one

another 2 jobs done on my to-do list, attacked the 2 cupboards in the shed, thou it was with rubber gloves, luckly no spiders or mice came and surprised me.

The big cupboard - i chucked some cleaner with a best before of 2003, it was right at the back of the cupboard.

Now all nicely sorted, - even found 21 bottles of shower gel, 15 deordrants..... at least won't smell.

Back to the hospital with dad, in a way it was a shock, it was the first appointment with the consultant, and it was cross the t's and dot the i's and face reality... and get to the nitty gritty.

Think the hardest thing for me, was finding that dad's mum had died of bowel cancer..... that opens up a high risk for me, so I have go on screening programme, and DD will need to be checked out.

Chemo was a major part of the discussion, - at the mo we dont know whether its chemo to stop an rougue cells/give a prevention of future risk, or whether the chemo is to reduce any secondary tumours.

We won't know this as chemo will start before his scan, - but onwards and upwards.

As for my ex, - I hoping he will crawl back under the rock he came out of!

Had mum well trained tonight - wrapping my ebay parcels...

Hoping now things will calm down and can get on with everything... xx

crunch_time

Keep your chin up about your Dad and well done on the ebaying front - its so addictive!
Crunchy xx

mum2one

spoke to my dmp and going to reduce my payment to £60 per month, (12 creditors - get £5 each), at the mo this is or Oct and Nov with the view to continue this with dec payment.

not much more to report at the mo x

mum2one

Its all systems go with dad, the hospital rang today and changed all the plans... he was originally due to go next week or an intro to chemo session, a group chat, walk round the dept, but as he is going to try the tablets first - they want him to collect his first batch on Monday... scary..

Inbetween times, - got to have flu jab, shingles jab, blood test, blood pressure checked and touch base appointment with the GP, have to say our surgery have been amazing, getting a bit worrying as when I ring I say its xx, and the reception team remember me..... esp as i had all these apps booked for next week, as well as flu jabs booked or mum, me and dd, no probs all apps swopped.

I'm taking DD away for the weekend, got a really cheap break, £40 for 2 ngts in a caravan, - think she needs some quality mum time.

We're hoping that we should know by Christmas whether were looking at pallative care or blast that cancer away, so hoping its going to be a good christmas xx